Finley, Wagner looking to qualify for RedBud National
Published 10:28 pm Thursday, June 29, 2017
Edwardsburg graduate Austin Wagner meets with the media Thursday. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
Broc Tickles tackles LaRocco’s Leap. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
Mike LaRocco meets with the media to talk about the new LaRocco’s Leap. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
Mitchell Harrison was the first rider to successfully jump LaRocco’s Leap during Thursday’s practice. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
RedBud MX installed new bleachers for fans. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
Broc Tickles thrills the fans. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
Al Morrison poses with the custom trophy he designed for the RedBud National. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
BUCHANAN — Dillon Finley and Austin Wagner are no strangers to RedBud.
The 2014 Edwardsburg graduates have been racing there pretty much their entire lives.
Finley and Wagner are back at the track this weekend trying to qualify for the 44th annual RedBud National.
This will be the third race of the season that Wagner, who missed qualifying for the nationals last year by one spot, has tried to race his way into the 450cc Class main event.
He qualified for the High Point National in Mt. Morris Pennsylvania back on June 17 and finished 38th overall. He missed qualifying for the Tennessee National last weekend in Blountville, Tennessee.
Wagner said that getting some good work in during practice would be one of the keys to earning a spot in the main face Saturday afternoon.
“The key is getting some good laps in,” he said. “Getting my head on straight.”
He is also looking forward to tackling the new LaRocco’s Leap.
Created 26 years ago in honor of local racing legend Mike LaRocco, the jump has long been the signature portion of the legendary motocross track.
The 140-foot jump that was one of the first on the circuit according LaRocco, was replaced since last year and new permanent grandstands were put up in its place after a storm blew over the old wooden grandstands.
The new jump takes away the sweeping left turn into the jump that the riders used to use to build up speed before hitting it.
The new configuration has a long S curve that could mean taking on the jump might be a big tougher, especially for the 250cc bikes.
“I get the track is kind of evolving and is trying to get better for spectators,” LaRocco said. “They needed a little more room. It is kind of identical and they just moved it over. It is still cool to me.”
Wagner said he is looking forward to taking his first run at the jump during practice Thursday.
“I am excited,” he said. “I haven’t hit it yet, but I am going to try to today.”
And what is he looking forward to the most about racing at his home track?
“All my family and friends and all the local people here,” he said. “I always try to do my best here.”
One of the friends he was talking about is Finley, who returns to racing after taking all of 2015 off.
Finley, who has qualified for one main race at RedBud, said he took last year off in order to work at his grandfather’s farm.
“I took a full year off,” he said. “I was working full time and did not really have much time to do anything else.”
Getting back into racing shape has been a challenge for Finley, but he feels he has ridden enough this year that he is ready to take on RedBud and find a spot in the field.
“Just getting in is a big deal, at least to me,” Finley said. “I enjoy doing it. Getting my cardio back up and just getting time on the bike is big. Trying to get your speed back is hard. I have been riding quite a bit this year so I feel I am pretty close to where I was.”
He, like Wagner, had not taken a shot at LaRocco’s Leap as of Thursday’s media day.
“I am kind of nervous, but I am probably going to have to do it,” Finley said.
Practice for both classes is scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. with qualifying to follow.
The last chance qualifying for the 250cc Class is scheduled for 11:35 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. for the 450cc Class.
The opening ceremonies will begin at 12:35 p.m. with the 250cc moto No. 1 scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
The 450cc moto is scheduled for 2:10 p.m.
The first 250 moto will be carried live on MAVtv and the 450 moto will be seen on NBCSN.
A highlight show will also be seen on NBCSN at 11 p.m.
